The Cayman Islands Cancer Society is in the process of launching a chemotherapy unit at the Cayman Islands Hospital.
Working with the Health Services Authority to make the unit a reality, the Cancer Society already has some of the funds to build the unit in place and designs have been drawn up for the centre.
Speaking at an appreciation evening for volunteers, sponsors, supporters and board members at Government House last week, the Cancer Society’s board chairwoman Betty Ann Duty said: “Tonight, it gives the Society great pleasure to officially reveal to our guests here, and the general public, that in the very near future we will be launching the initiative to provide a state-of-the-art chemotherapy centre in partnership with the Health Services Authority.
“We feel this project is an extremely worthwhile endeavour and will no doubt be supported and embraced by our community.”
Rodney Frederick of Frederick & McRae is designing the unit, which will be based at the old Lighthouse School, next to the hospital, and Desmond Kinch is helping to spearhead the fundraising campaign.
Bequests from the late Ingrid Penelli and Debbie Wight provided the kick-off funding for the project, Ms Duty said.
The Cayman Islands Hospital already has a small unit that caters to cancer patients in need of chemotherapy, but it is based in a small windowless room, which used to be a closet, within the ambulatory unit and can only handle a small number of patients. Many cancer patients continue to receive their chemo treatments overseas.
Jennifer Weber, operations manager of the Cancer Society said the new unit will have four infusion chairs, meaning it can cater to at least eight patients a day. “We’ve been assured that this will be more than substantial,” she said.
“Patients do get chemotherapy here, but it would be nice if they could have chemotherapy in a more suitable environment at this lousy time in their life,” Ms Weber said. “We’d also much rather that people stay here on Island for chemotherapy instead of having to go overseas. They can sleep in their own beds and be driven to and from the hospital by friends or family, rather than be in a hotel room somewhere they don’t know.”
Thursday’s appreciation evening was not just to announce the new initiative, but also so that the Cayman Islands Cancer Society could thank and recognise its many supporters.
At the event, Ms Duty also welcomed the Cancer Society’s incoming patron Chi Chi Foster, who takes over from retiring patron Sybil McLaughlin.
Governor Duncan Taylor presented plaques of appreciation to several business representatives and individuals who had helped the Cancer Society purchase a mammogram machine for the Cayman Islands Hospital in 2006.
Thanking the many people throughout the Cayman Islands who had helped the Cancer Society over the years, medical director of the organisation Dr. Sook Yin said: “Without your help and your support, through sponsorships and volunteering time and effort, we cannot make it.”
Ms Duty explained that the Society hosts an annual volunteer appreciation event, but this year, it decided to expand the event beyond volunteers, to include original founders of the Cancer Society, sponsors and partners in health services.
“Without our very reliable volunteers who give us their countless hours of manpower and our sponsors generously giving us financial support we would not be able to carry out the invaluable services to the community that we do every day,” said Ms Duty.
The Cancer Society provides financial assistance to those who qualify for aid; offers counselling services for cancer patients and their families; spearheads the HPV vaccination programme; provides vouchers for mammograms, pap tests and prostate cancer screening; provides prosthetic breasts and wigs for cancer patients; assists patients in need of medical equipment, such as beds and wheelchairs; provides education presentations; and also launched the first cancer registry in the Cayman Islands along with the Health Services Authority. It also hosts an annual health fair and the Stride Against Cancer run/walk.
Among those who were recognised at the event was Hope Stephenson, who is the longest serving Cancer Society board director and the late Alex Alexander, who was a founding member of the Cancer Society.
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